Seventeen
Mike felt like he was floating on white cool air. His lungs weren't filled with water like he suspected, but he felt like he was taking on new breaths. He saw everything he could remember from his past visits to Somewhere. The memories were rich and happy, all until the end.
"I can't come here anymore," Mike heard his own voice explaining things to King Oberon. He was about sixteen. "Can't you see I'm too old for this? I am sorry."
Mike saw his younger self leaving Somewhere for the final time and he almost felt the water overcoming him, but he saw something else. The fairies hadn't lied when they'd said that the water would give him the answers he wanted. He saw when the destruction came. He saw the scared faces of children she'd yet to eat even after years. Finally though, he saw eyes that he'd recognize anywhere, his son Christopher with muddy hands, dirty hair and all. He was huddled in a corner of what appeared to be a cave and he was guarding what appeared to be a bunch of younger kids. Mike felt this overwhelming sense of pride in his son before the vision was yanked from him and he was pulled. He breached the surface of the river and felt two pairs of hands dragging him onto the shoreline.
Mike sputtered and coughed up some water before his vision cleared and he was face to face with a concerned Bobby and an almost enraged Sam.
"What the hell Mike," Sam exclaimed. "What were you thinking? You could've drowned!"
"Dumb idjit," Bobby muttered and walked back over to the horses.
"I know where the kids are," Mike shook off the excess water droplets that clung to his uniform pants. The rest of him was soaked, but thankfully he had some time to dry before the cold air hit for the night. "We're wasting time just standing here."
Sam was thoroughly confused as to how Mike could've gotten any information from taking a dip in a raging river, but if that was how the guy got his facts then so be it. Mike was right about thing, they were wasting time they could've used to find Dean and the kids. Sam joined Bobby by the newly watered horses and mounted his steed. Bobby, with some difficulty, did as well. Mike was the last to saddle up and when he did he cracked the reigns and instructed his horse to take off into the mountain pass. Sam and Bobby followed reluctantly, but closely behind. Time was precious at this point.
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Puck's shoulder had healed almost all of the way and he was able to ride Moonbeam by himself. Sindri trailed the pack and Dean and Puck were both leading. The ride had been mostly silent ever since they'd escaped the rock guardians, but Puck managed to be the one to break the silence.
"Why exactly is it that you want to rescue my sister?" Puck asked. "You've just met her basically and it's pretty obvious she has quite the thing for you. Why I will never understand, but she does. But just why are you doing this human?"
"Because it's the right thing to do," Dean explained, he sighed at the appointed nickname Puck had given him and had given up trying to correct him. "Your sister and all those kids they don't deserve the fate that's fallen upon them. I'll admit it's probably my influence that caused your sister's abduction, but it was not my fault. She made a conscious choice and now we're saving her from it because it's the right thing to do."
Puck was silent. He was contemplating Dean's words. He looked back at Sindri who simply smirked and gave a little nod as if to encourage Puck to keep talking.
"That's what I do in my world Puck," Dean explained. "I hunt things like this Basket Woman. These things hurt my people too. I'm sort of their chosen one if you like to think of it that way."
Puck looked back at Dean, steering Moonbeam around another pile of stones.
"I don't want your crown," Dean said. "I don't know how many times I have to say that to you, but I don't need it. I have my own world to defend and I don't even care if you like me or not, but I need you to understand that if nothing else."
Puck stopped suddenly, Dean still staring at him. He stared dead ahead.
"Did you hear a word I just said?" Dean was really getting annoyed now.
"I heard you human," Puck hissed. "But do you want her to?"
Puck motioned to the area in front of them, which was a giant sized cave that a rather large woman could easily fit into. Dean swallowed hard and Sindri caught up with the pair and stopped behind them. Puck's look went from shocked to determination in a matter of minutes. It reminded Dean a lot of himself when he was on hunts with Sam.
"We're wasting time," Puck announced. "We need to get in there and find my sister and those children, now."
Puck went into the shrouded darkness first. Sindri followed shortly after passing a look to Dean. It was a warrior's look. Dean knew it well. He'd given to Sam many a time when the pair didn't know they'd survive a hunt. Dean nodded in response and giving one last look to the light he went into the cave too and prepared for the hunt of a lifetime.
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Sam had dismounted to check out the carnage in their path for a mere moment before he knew they needed to keep going. It was a slaughter of wolf carcasses that had been rotting in the boiling sun and were giving off a lovely stench. Through the head of one was a makeshift wooden stake. D.W. was carved into its forehead and Sam, after taking the sign, stepped away from the rotting flesh.
"Dean did this," Sam explained, getting back on his horse. "We're on the right path. Knowing Dean he'll keep leaving me signs. He knows neither Bobby nor I would stay behind forever."
"Well then," Mike replied with a curt nod. "Let's hope were not too late already."
Sam tried his hardest to ignore Mike's brooding words as the trio rode off full speed through the mountain pass.
Reviews are appreciated!
I know I'm dragging it out, but Dean made it to her lair didn't she?
More to come soon!